INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Over the years, SOC has developed a range of international activities. Substantial proofs of its success were the appointment to hold a winter edition of IV Winter EYOD in Poprad -Tatry in 1999 the main organiser of which was SOC, and also a positive feedback to the candidature of Poprad-Tatry for the organisation of OWG 2002, and 2006 respectively. Another proof of successful diplomatic activity of SOC within Europe was the assignment of Seminar of Mission Heads and General Secretaries of European NOC that took place in Bratislava in 1998. Its integral part was also the session of the Executive Committee of EOC. Similar significant event was the general assembly of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) and 4th European Fair Play Conference held in Bratislava with the participation of delegates from 18 countries. On May 2009 SOC was co-organizer of the international conference „Sports and Law" where also SloVAK Commissioner of European Union responsible for sports Mr. Ján Figeľ took part addressing his speech.

In the sphere of international relations, the establishment of Slovak Houses at important sports events proved to be very beneficial for SOC. Their tradition began humbly at XXVI Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. The Olympic house in its new shape was introduced at the World Championship in Alpine Skiing in Sestriera in 1997. At the beginning, the task of Slovak Houses was to support the candidature of Poprad-Tatry for OWG 2006, but they brought such favourable response that there has been an effort to establish them at all Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

SOC used the premises of the Slovak House at OWG in Nagano, Salt Lake City and Turin as well as at OG in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing for many meetings with members of IOC and international sports federations and also for bilateral negotiations with other NOCs. Several international contracts of SOC were prepared at these occasions. At present, SOC has concluded contracts of cooperation with many NOC, including the USOC, Chinese or Russian NOC.

Whilst except for Vladimír Černušák no other Slovak managed to obtain a post in the IOC or its bodies, several people nominated by SOC achieved a significant position in the European Olympic Committee (EOC). Martin Benko was a member of the Executive of EOC during the period of 2001-2005. In the past, Ján Mráz (Revision Commission), Jozef Prusák (Legal Commission) and Mária Mračnová (EYOD Commission) worked in EOC commissions. At present, Slovakia is represented by František Chmelár (Commission for Connection with the European Union), Jozef Liba (EYOF Commission) and Jerguš Bača (Commission of Athletes).

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

In 1999, SOC started to operate its own internet site www.olympic.sk. At the beginning of 2007, the webpage was changed considerably. It has become an important information and promotional tool for the presentation of the Slovak Olympic Committee to the general public.

The integral part of SOC activities in this area is the publishing of several brochures issued on the occasion of important anniversaries of the origin of SOC or as the summary of SOC activities during the completed Olympic cycles. In the past, SOC issued the journal Olympic Panorama (Olympijská panoráma) in Slovak and English mutation and at present it publishes a quarterly Olympic Revue (Olympijská revue) as a supplement to the daily Sport (Šport). Experts of SOC and members of the Media Commission have prepared a number of promotional materials. The collective of members of the Slovak Olympic Academy edited the publication „Olympic Movement in Slovakia" on the 100th anniversary of modern Olympic Games in 1996. Memory books were issued after every OG and WOG in which Slovak athletes participated.

In 2000, SOC took part in the extensive and representative survey of the Slovak Athlete of the Century the winner of which was figure skater Ondrej Nepela followed by ice-hockey goalkeeper Vladimír Dzurilla and cyclist Anton Tkáč.

The fact that only representatives of Olympic sports became the best ten sportsmen of the century and that the vast majority of 26 sports personalities of the century selected out of hundred nominated sportsmen by readers of the daily Sport in the survey's first stage achieved significant success at OG or WOG clearly demonstrated a positive perception of the importance of the Olympics for Slovakia.

At the end of 2002, on the occasion of ten years of its existence, SOC initiated the survey Olympian of the Decade. Its winner became slalom canoeist Michal Martikán followed by other slalom canoeists Peter and Pavel Hochschorner and swimmer Martina Moravcová. The Olympic team of the decade was the team of women biathletes. In December 2002, the survey results were announced as a part of a big gala evening in Reduta in Bratislava. SOC organised gala evenings on other important occasions as well. During visits of the IOC Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch (2000), and Jacques Rogge, celebratory extended general assemblies of SOC, which attracted a large interest of media, were held.

In December 2007 the most complete book about the history of Slovak Olympic movement and the Slovak Olympic Committee was issued - „Slovakia in Mark of Five Rings", written and compiled by Ján Grexa and Ľubomír Souček. The bilingual book published with financial support of the IOC Olympic Solidarity has been launched during the celebration of 15 years of SOC.